Sourav Ganguly Wants Pakistan To “Better Qualify” For 2023 ODI World Cup Semi-finals. There’s A Reason

The ICC World Cup 2023 is all set to kickstart on October 5 and Team India beneath the management of Rohit Sharma and steerage of head coach Rahul Dravid will kick off their marketing campaign towards five-time champions Australia in Chennai. It has been 10 years since India’s ICC title drought and the final time they gained a World Cup was in 2011 beneath Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s management. Former India captain and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly believes that Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid can flip issues round for India and finish the ICC title drought.

“Pressure will always be there. When they played before also, there was pressure. Rohit Sharma has five centuries in the last ODI World Cup. I am sure there must have been pressure on him then also. Pressure is not a problem. I am sure they will find a way to succeed. During Rahul Dravid’s playing days, there was pressure to perform, and now that he is the head coach, there is pressure on him to deliver. That will not go away, and I don’t think pressure is an issue,” stated Sourav Ganguly whereas talking to Revsportz.

Sourav Ganguly believes within the management of Rohit Sharma as he has led Mumbai Indians to 5 Indian Premier League titles and has additionally led India to Asia Cup 2018 win.

“Just win it. He has won five IPLs, which is not easy also. So hopefully, he can do it for India in this World Cup,” stated Sourav Ganguly.

Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens stadium hosted the 1987 World Cup last, 1996 World Cup semi-final, hosted three matches of the 2011 World Cup in addition to hosted 5 matches of the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup which included the ultimate between England and West Indies, and a attainable India versus Pakistan showdown may very well be on the playing cards this time. Ganguly is sort of hopeful.

“I hope so. We are extremely happy to have five matches at the Eden Gardens. I must thank the BCCI and Jay Shah for giving us the semi-final. I had spoken to him, and I am sure the Cricket Association of Bengal must have spoken to him a number of times about the matches. Eden Gardens is a great venue – 60-70,000 capacity, and that also plays a huge role. We will upgrade it to around 100,000 in the next two years. Extremely happy because the World Cup is a big event, and Eden has hosted big matches in the past also,” defined Ganguly.

Potential WC semi-finalists

Other than Team India the previous India captain has chosen Australia, England and New Zealand to make it to the semi-final giving Pakistan additionally an opportunity to make it. But he needs an India-Pakistan semi-final on the Eden Gardens.

“It’s very hard to say. Australia, England, India. You can never underestimate New Zealand in these big matches. I will pick five, and include Pakistan also. Pakistan better qualify so that we will have the India-Pakistan semi-final at the Eden Gardens (laughs),” instructed Ganguly.

The man who led India to World Cup last in 2003 is shocked to see two-time champions West Indies failing to make it to ICC World Cup 2023.

“Shocking and an eye-opener for West Indies. It is important for them to look after their international cricket because a lot of their players just go away to play T20 cricket around the world. So, they will have to look at this aspect carefully. They will have to look at the quality, and that is very, very important,” expressed Ganguly.